Classic Film Friday: For Me and My Gal

This film is one of those ones where the truth is stranger than fiction. It is loosely based on a true story about vaudeville actors Harry Palmer (Gene Kelly) and Jo Hayden (Judy Garland). Which is kind of strange because the movie sort of fell apart near the end, but when I googled it and saw that it kind of really happened, well... I don't know.

So anyway, Harry and Jo, meet up and become an act together. They hope that one day they'll play the Palace in NYC, but until then they play smaller venues. Harry is a dreamer, a schemer, an opportunist and Jo is simply in love with Harry... even though Harry doesn't know it. They come into contact with Eve Minard (Martha Eggerth) who is a very accomplished singer. Though Harry doesn't know it yet, Jo and Eve plot against him, so that Jo can see what he is all about. Eve offers Harry a job, but not Jo, and Harry takes it.

Harry has to break the news to Jo, and that is when it is revealed the Jo loves Harry, and Harry loves Jo. To make things even better their agent wires them that they will play the Palace. Too good to be true huh?

Jo's brother Danny is called up by the draft, he was going to be a doctor. He dies and Harry gets notified that he's been drafted... and he needs to report before they can play at the Palace.

What happens next is where it gets weird. Harry hurts his hand to keep from being drafted, which also enrages Jo. To make it up he tries to enlist but no one will have him. So from there you will have to rent, borrow or buy the movie to see if Harry can turn his luck around, if they will play the palace, or if Jo and Harry will be together again.